Caitlin helps Loreto Grammar to Trafford football title

Loreto Grammar School won the Trafford Girls’ Intermediate Football Championships courtesy of a clinical strike from talented hotshot Caitlin O’Callaghan.

Caitlin raced onto a defence-splitting pass from captain and playmaker Louisa Stiles to rifle home a power-packed low drive from the edge of the box to end the hopes of a hard-working Wellington side.

The Loreto footballers had previously beaten teams from Altrincham Girls’ Grammar, Stretford Grammar, Blessed Thomas Holford, Altrincham College of Arts and Broadoak to seal their place in a tense, nail-biting final.

Goalkeeper Rebecca Lang was on top form throughout the final stages, making a series of strong saves, while defenders Cordelia Sellwood-Blythe and Grace Brown showed how to combine no nonsense defending with calm, collected possession football.

Proud skipper Louisa Stiles said: “We like men’s football a lot, but definitely prefer the women’s game and I was personally inspired to take up the game when I met former England player Sue Smith when I was a pupil at Loreto Preparatory School. The England Women’s team are just fantastic and have inspired a whole generation to take up the game.”

Loreto Grammar School’s Head of Physical Education, Catherine Ball, said: “I can’t take any credit; the girls even managed their own rotation and tactics as I was looking after a younger age group for much of the day and showed great maturity throughout the tournament.

“Girls’ football has grown exponentially over the last decade and we are getting more and more accomplished players coming through from the primary sector.”